Graduate Trainee Surveyor

Maritime and Coastguard Agency; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Civil Service Pension – 28.97% of your

25 days annual leave

Flexible working options

Professional qualifications paid bythe

Job summary

Maritime and Coastguard Agency invites applications for a Graduate Trainee Surveyor role in Plymouth (and additional locations). You will join a four-year development scheme forming MCA Marine Surveyors, gaining practical experience and theoretical knowledge of maritime regulatory work.

The programme starts with two years of hands-on marine office experience, followed by continued training under mentors to build your skill and capability profiles, supporting a career in marine safety and

Qualifications

• Engineering discipline degree accredited to achieve Chartered Engineering status (Engineering Council).
• Competence in IT and ability to use MS Office suite.

Responsibilities

• Gaining understanding of MCA survey, inspection, audit and enforcement activities, including Flag State Work, Legal Frameworks, Auditing Techniques and Human Element, and Convention Vessels.
• Assisting Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and Marine Surveyors in maintaining high standards of marine safety; minimising loss of life and pollution.
• Attending Marine Office/HQ Operations Management meetings as required.
• Maintaining competence and training records; completing MCA Graduate Trainee Surveyor training programme to a satisfactory standard; pursuing training opportunities per management guidance.

Skills

IT skills

Microsoft Office

Willingness to learn

Teamwork

Communication

Education

Engineering degree accredited for Chartered Engineer status

Job description

479916 Graduate Trainee Surveyor

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 27th September 2026

Location: Aberdeen, Belfast, Cardiff, Colchester, Plymouth

Salary: £30,485 (There is an additional £3,500 in allowance which increases to £7,500 after 12 months)

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Contract Type: Fixed Term 24 months – Flexible working, Full-time

Available Positions: 2

As a Graduate Surveyor, you will complete a structured development training programme to become an MCA Marine Surveyor and gain an understanding of the Government’s Maritime Strategy for ‘Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas’. You will assist MCA Surveyors in maintaining high standards of marine safety, to minimise loss of life amongst seafarers and coastal users and minimise pollution from ships of both the sea and the coastline.

You will embark on a four-year development Graduate Surveyor Scheme. Your first two years will be spent gaining practical experience of a variety of different MCA tasks in a marine office, alongside theoretical learning about the role of a surveyor and the legal framework in which surveyors work.

Top Responsibilities

• Gaining an understanding of MCA survey, inspection, audit and enforcement activities, including but not limited to Flag State Work, Legal Frameworks, Auditing Techniques and Human Element, and Convention Vessels.
• Assisting Subject Matter Experts (SME’s) and Marine Surveyors in maintaining high standards of marine safety; minimising loss of life amongst seafarers and coastal users, and minimising pollution from ships of both the sea and the coastline.
• Attending Marine Office/HQ Operations Management meetings as required.
• Maintaining accurate and up-to-date personal competence and training records; completing all the required elements of the MCA Graduate Trainee Surveyor training programme to a satisfactory standard; undertaking training and development opportunities so that the skill and capability profiles of the post-holder are maintained as directed by the line management chain.

For more information on the role and responsibilities please see the full job advert on CS Jobs using the link provided.

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
• Access to the staff discount portal.
• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
• Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

About You

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• Relevant work experience or placements with transferable skills to the graduate surveyor role.
• Competence in IT and the ability to use Microsoft Office suite of applications.
• A willingness to learn, develop and follow a structured development programme supported by mentors and technical professionals.
• Excellent communication and team working skills.
• Relevant accredited Degree as stated above.

Essential qualifications/licenses

1. You must hold a Full UK Driving License at the point of application to be eligible for this role.
2. Applicants should have completed an engineering discipline degree accredited to achieve Chartered Engineering status with the Engineering Council within the last 24 months. Examples include Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering or Mechanical Engineering.

Applications from those in the final months of their degree may be considered, subject to provision of acceptable evidence of predicted grades provided by the relevant University. Degree results must be held before employment commences.

This vacancy closes at 23:55 on Sunday 27th September 2026